The Fruit of Faithfulness

“The fruit of the Spirit is faithfulness...” Galatians 5:22b

 Faithfulness flows from the fruit of the Spirit’s vine with divine fidelity. It is the ability to stay the course in a crisis or to correct a corrupt circumstance. Faithfulness is a personal resolve to stay committed in marriage through “sickness and health, richer and poorer and to death do us part.” Faithfulness feels a compelling call from Christ to stay put in a career, especially when it’s not easy, knowing perseverance leads to righteous rewards.
 
Are you at the crossroads of a commitment? Will you remain faithful, even though it is unfair and hard? It is easier to follow Jesus when He heals and forgives. It is harder to be a dedicated disciple when you are persecuted for your faith and demeaned for doing good. However, because Christ remained faithful to the Cross, on the Cross and after the Cross, you remain faithful to bear your cross for Christ. Faithfulness finds faithfulness by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
 
“What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness?” Romans 3:3

Moreover, make sure to keep your eyes on Jesus, not on the unfaithfulness of others. People will let you down; so do not place them on a pedestal. A friend’s unfaithfulness, even betrayal is your opportunity to remain faithful, as you lean into the Lord’s faithfulness. Scared friends may scatter and an insecure family member may gossip, but you still model loyalty to those you love. Love is faithful in the face of unfaithfulness.
 
Furthermore, you can rely on the faithfulness of your heavenly Father. He is faithful when you are not faithful. He is faithful to give you courage when you face fearful situations. He is faithful to give abundant grace in your time of great need. He is faithful to give you wisdom for the best decision. He extends you mercy, so you can be merciful. The Lord’s faithfulness facilitates your faithfulness. So, stay faithful to Him and them!

“Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.” Psalm 86:11
                                                                                                            -Boyd Bailey

Engage Jax

EngageJax Conference - September 9

On Sunday evening, September 9 from 5:30pm to 8:30pm, we will be hosting here at First Baptist Church of Orange Park, the annual EngageJax Conference. This annual conference is sponsored by the network of churches in the Jacksonville Baptist Association. This year, the focus is "Domain Engagement."
Our guest speaker this evening will be Bob Roberts, Sr. Pastor of NorthWood Church in Keller, Texas and Chief Visionary Officer of Vision360. For a better description of how the church must embrace domain engagement, watch Bob in the video linked here.
This concept is key to winning this city and community for Christ.
Mark your calendars and get your child-care secured (there's no child-care available at the church this evening) and plan to join up to 200 other churches this evening.
Leading us in worship this evening will be Ascension Worship. This group of worshippers from various Jacksonville-area churches, are gifted and anointed by God. The worship is fresh and worthy of the One who is our audience

"I think it is valuable to be poked at and I think - and this is obviously where things are headed-it's going to be much harder to be a Christian in America … which means to be a Christian you actually have to think it's worth it. You actually have to think it through, you actually have to process it." - Phil Vischer
"And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."- Luke 9:23

Isaiah 41:10

Class Input Needed A.S.A.P

Class Camping Trip:
The camping trip is the last weekend of September. Please contact Stephanie A.S.A.P to let her know if you will be going or not, so that extra treehouse cabins can be released.

Pastor Appreciation Dinner:
The dinner is coming up in October. We are not anywhere close to what is needed financially to prove the dinner. If the class as a whole isn't interested in doing the dinner, Stephanie needs to know so that that time can be released on the calendar.

Gospel Project:
Please let Terry of Stephanie know you preference regarding material (download, internet, iphone app., or paper book) this week.

The Outcasts

Unashamed Hope

No one whose hope is in You will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse. Psalm 25:3

 We are shameless when our hope is in our Savior Jesus Christ. Hope in Jesus resides in a no shame zone. We have nothing to be ashamed of when our hope is in heaven. Others may make fun of our simple faith, but they cannot shame us. Ironically, critics of faith are the ones to be ashamed. They are without hope. Hope outside of Christ is a caricature of positive expectations. Misplaced hope is a shame. It is a sham. It leads to deep disappointment and disillusionment. Shame is the reward for sin. On the other hand, freedom is the fruit of hope. We have nothing to be embarrassed about when we hope in the eternal. We have something solid to look forward to when we look to the Lord for hope and encouragement. Hope in Jesus is never put to shame.

However, hope is often related to our hurt. It is out of our pain that hope in Christ seems the most compelling. Our pain from suffering produces a need and a capacity for hope. Suffering enlarges the heart by creating the power to sympathize. When we have lived in poverty, we have more of a tendency to empathize with the poor. When we, or a loved one, have combated disease, our prayers are on the lookout for the ill. When we have seen our families ripped apart by death or divorce, we have a soft spot in our hearts for a single parent and the children. It is in our hope that we are able to extend hope to the hopeless. We can be grateful for the occasional grief we encounter if it saves us from hopeless hard-heartedness. Hope-filled hearts are on the lookout for those seeking the Lord. So it is out of our hurt that hope comes alive for others and ourselves.

Furthermore, our hope is reserved for us in heaven. Our heavenly Father owns our hope. He is an owner whom we never have to be embarrassed about. Our Savior’s hope will never bring shame to our situation. No rational thinking person would say, “What a shame that Christians have forgiveness of their sins, abundant living on earth and the hope of heaven.” If anything, people without hope may be jealous and ashamed of their own hopeless condition. Lastly, the Lord dispenses hope liberally and indiscriminately. Jesus is not stingy with hope. He extends hope as a generous giver, gladly and cheerfully. It gives God great joy to give hope to His children. His part is to give; our part is to receive.

So heaven’s hope is alive and well. It is waiting for the engagement of faithful followers of Jesus. Like a secret garden accessible by faith alone, there is a luscious environment of hope for our enjoyment. We can sit and smell the flowers of God’s faithfulness. We can bite into the deliciously juicy fruit of God’s peace. We can stand without fear in the warm light of the Lord because we are full of hope. Hope lifts the veil of shame and replaces it with the face of encouraging expectations. Pessimism is replaced with optimism. Inertia is replaced with energy. Excuses are replaced with ambition. Defeat is replaced with victory. We can be extremely grateful and unashamed that our hope is in Jesus. Hope may be lost for a season, so do not be ashamed to continually seek the Lord. Seek Him while He can be found (Isaiah 55:6). You will find hope in Him. Hope is God’s way to love and encourage you and others. Hope is not ashamed. -Boyd Bailey